COURSE SYLLABUS

PRE-ALGEBRA

GRADE 7

 

Course Description: This course combines the goals and objectives for grades seven and eight from the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Mathematics. The compilation ensures that students who take Algebra I in grade 8 will have met the complete curriculum objectives for middle school mathematics as well as have the prerequisite skills for Algebra I.

Textbook: Pre-Algebra by Prentice Hall, 2004

Required Materials: Textbook, 3-ring binder, notebook paper, TI-83/84 graphing calculator, pencils

Course Requirements: Students will come to class each day with required materials and completed assignments. Six weeks grades will be determined by:

Homework Grade: Students will start with a grade of 100. Six homework assignments @ 10 points each will be graded (approximately one per week). Students will not be given advanced notice on which homework assignment will be graded – all homework assignments are expected to be completed. Points lost for incorrect or incomplete responses will be deducted from the initial grade of 100.

Quiz Grade: 4 quizzes/projects (all announced) @ 20 points each.

Quiz average will be points earned divided by 80 possible points.

Test Average: 2 Chapter Tests at 50 points each. Test average will be

percentage correct.

Six Weeks Average: (homework + quiz + test)/3

Classroom management policies and procedures: Students are expected to enter the classroom promptly after the class change, sit in their assigned seats, and be ready to follow the instructions of the teacher. Students requiring more than one verbal warning will be moved to an alternate seat to help focus attention. Additional warnings will result in time after school, time served during break, referral to the headmaster, and/or Friday School.

Homework and overall expectations: Students are expected to attempt all assignments. Appropriate guided practice will be provided during the class period to support independent practice at home. In addition, students may seek additional assistance before school, during break, or after school.

Major course objectives:

• Computation with real numbers
• Ratio and proportion
• Factors and multiples
• Volume and surface area
• Pythagorean Theorem and indirect measurement
• Measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode)
• Box plots, histograms, and scatter plots
• Equations and inequalities
• Linear functions
• Slope

The North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Grades 7 and 8 may be accessed through the following link: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/mathematics/scos/2003/k-8/index